About us

We are a support for vulnerable pregnant women and new mums, and a listening ear for everyone.

Established as a charity in 2006, we enable and empower people to become physically, emotionally, and spiritually healthy by offering two holistic services that promote health and wellbeing. Those are Rapha Listening Service and Bethel Doula Service. Both seek to empower local community members to be part of the solution for vulnerable pregnant women and for those who need listening support. This is done by providing these community assets with Bethel Health provides support advice and guidance services that enable improved well-being and mental health of the many diverse communities that live in the most socially and economically deprived areas of Birmingham

Doula Service

Over the last ten years, Birmingham and Sandwell have had one of England’s highest infant mortality rates. The biggest reason is poverty and social deprivation.

Our Doula Service works closely with the NHS, statutory agencies and partners to tackle this by supporting at risk pregnant women and new mums. We do this by providing emotional, practical and expert support.

    These are just some of the referrals made to us in the first month of this year:

    • A woman who has sofa surfed throughout her pregnancy
    • A woman traumatised by FGM and Modern Slavery
    • New mums too poor to afford the basics for their child
    • Pregnant women living apart from their family and friends
    • Pregnant asylum seekers unaware of their rights and unfamiliar with their local community

     

    Rapha Service

    Our other priority is mental health. We run a telephone-based listening service delivered by a 30 strong team of trained volunteers who speak several community languages. The service is available to anyone living in Birmingham and Solihull.

    People referred to us are often suffering loss, low mood, depression and anxiety.

     

    Our story

    Bethel Health and Healing Network is a registered charity limited by guarantee, established on Christian faith and principles. It aims to offer a range of services that will promote the health and well-being of Birmingham’s disadvantaged people and its environs by enabling them to maximise their physical, psychological and spiritual potential through achieving balance and wholeness within themselves, their relationships and their community.

    People of all faiths, races and cultures are welcome to the services we offer without any fear of discrimination.

    Since our formation in 2006, we have delivered a doula service primarily to asylum seekers. Since then, our work has expanded with plans to deliver further projects in 2022 – 2023 to support our mission to offer a range of holistic services that promote health and well-being to people in need.

      Values

      • Compassion
      • Integrity
      • Empowerment
      • Fairness
      • Partnership

      Mission

      To offer a range of holistic services that promote health and well-being to people in need.

      Vision

      To enable and empower people to become physically, emotionally and spiritually healthy.

      Strategic aims

      • Diverse communities have access to quality mental health and well-being services.
      • Bethel Health and Healing Network continues to be a place of welcome for those in need.
      • Deliver and develop effective services for existing and new beneficiaries
      • Increase our impact through strategic partnerships
      • Bethel Health and Healing Network is an effective and sustainable organisation

      As a Doula Champion, you might accompany expectant mothers to prenatal appointments, provide birthing support if needed, help new mums with newborn care and breastfeeding, and ensure they attend their 6-week postnatal checks. You become a trusted companion and advocate for mothers who might otherwise be alone or uncertain.

      This will close in 0 seconds

      You will receive accredited doula training from experienced professionals (led by an ex-NHS midwife) , covering birth coaching, maternal health, and safeguarding. By the end, you’ll be equipped with the skills and
      confidence to support women one-on-one.

      This will close in 0 seconds

      This pathway is ideal if you are interested in maternity care or midwifery. It offers invaluable hands-on experience – from attending births (optionally) to postpartum support – giving you a taste of a career in maternal health. Many Doula Champions use this experience as a springboard into NHS roles, midwifery training, or paid doula work in the future.

      This will close in 0 seconds

      Key activities: You will provide one-to-one support through active listening sessions – this could be over the phone, via video call, or in person. You let people share their feelings, and you offer empathy and guidance towards further help if needed (such as suggesting community services). Often, just being there to listen can make a huge difference.

      This will close in 0 seconds

      Training provided: You will undergo intensive training in reflective listening and mental health first response. Our training (often delivered via Zoom over a series of sessions) will teach you how to handle sensitive conversations, maintain confidentiality, and know your boundaries . By completion, you’ll be a certified listening volunteer with skills applicable to counseling or psychology fields.

      This will close in 0 seconds

      Emphasize volunteer scope: Rapha Champions commit to at least an hour per week of listening support for a client after training , which can often be arranged flexibly. You might have regular weekly calls with a client for a period of time. There are also opportunities to facilitate group sessions or community support groups as you grow in experience.

      This will close in 0 seconds

      Benefits and career pathways: This pathway is perfect if you’re interested in mental health, counseling, or social work. The experience you gain – in communication, empathy, and understanding mental health – is highly relevant to careers in counseling, psychotherapy, mental health nursing, or community support roles. Rapha Champions have a pathway to progress into formal counseling courses or mental health roles in the NHS or voluntary sector.” (For example, mention “You could go on to become a paid listening service coordinator or pursue qualifications in therapy – the programme can open these doors.

      This will close in 0 seconds